Combined display, travelling, and wardrobe shoe case



Dec. 17, 1957 s. GARFIELD 2,

COMBINED DISPLAY, TRAVELLING AND WARDROBE SHOE CASE Filed Oct. 26, 1954 INVENTOR. /2 SIDNEY GARFIELD BYMMW COMBINED DISPLAY, TRAVELLING, AND WARDROBE SHOE CASE Sidney Garfield, New York, N. Y.

Application October 26, 1954, Serial No. 464,845

2 Claims. (Cl. 190-16) The present invention relates to boxes and containers, and in particular to a combined display, travel and closet wardrobe case for one or more pairs of shoes.

Containers have been heretofore adapted for combined functions such as displaying and carrying about one or more pairs of shoes. However, such containers frequently are of complicated construction, bulky, and unattractive in appearance. From the standpoint of the general public, it is essential that such containers be of simple construction, functionally suited to their severa purposes, and attractive.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a box or carton of extremely simplified construction which may serve in a retail store as a display case or stand for shoes, and after being sold with one or more pairs of shoes, serve as a carrying case for the shoes and/ or as a closet or wardrobe accessory.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating features of the invention, there is provided a combined display, travel and closet wardrobe shoe case which comprises a base and a cover hingedly connected to the base. The base includes a platform which is inclined forwardly and downwardly from the rear of the base and receives thereon one or more pairs of shoes. The platform, which serves as an inclined pedestal, is formed with one or more pairs of depressions, each depression being conformable generally to the outline of a shoe or to the heel portion of a shoe. The lower portions or heels of one or more pairs of shoes are receivable within the depressions and confine the shoes against lateral displacement relative to the pedestal. To advantage, the cover includes a top wall which is spaced in relation to the pedestal when the cover is closed to confine the heels of the several pairs of shoes against removal from the conforming depressions.

When the device is to be used as a display case, the same is placed on a counter, in a store window or the like, with the cover open or removed, and with the several pairs of shoes received on the pedestal-like support. When the device is used as a travel case, it simulates in appearance a piece of luggage, such as an attache case, and provides a convenient way to carry about several pairs of shoes. When the device is to be used as a closet or wardrobe accessory, the cover may be removed and the pedestal-like base disposed at any convenient location, as within a closet.

The use of such combined display, travel and closet wardrobe shoe case presents an interesting approach to the merchandising of shoes. For example, the case may be initially constructed to accommodate three pairs of shoes, one pair for dressed-up business occasions, one pair for informal business occasions, and one pair for casual outdoor or country attire. The display of such a multiple-section case in the store with advartising associated with each section of the case should attract the average male purchaser who is frequently faced with the problem of packing an adequate shoe wardrobe for a trip which may encompass both-business and social activi- Ynited States Patent ties. The buyer is offered the possibilities of purchasing a complete shoe wardrobe for his needs with a carrying case and thus may be induced to purchase several pairs of shoes rather than a single pair. Further, to the end of promoting such multiple-unit sale, the case itself may be executed in attractive luggage materials, such as leather, with provision for removal of advertising indicia after the display function is served and the case sold to the consumer with the several pairs of shoes therein.

The above brief description as well as other objects, features and advantages of the present invention may be best appreciated upon reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred but illustrative embodiment of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a combined display, travel and closet wardrobe shoe box or case embodying features of the present invention, illustrated open and with a single pair of shoes supported therein;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view on a reduced scale of the shoe box or case shown in Fig. l, but illustrated in the closed position;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale showing the internal construction of the case when closed and illustrating the relative position of the shoes within the case such that the shoes are confined against displacement;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the present invention, shown open and with a single pair of shoes accommodated therein; and,

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale of the form illustrated in Fig, 4, shown in closed position.

Referring now specifically to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive of the drawing, there is shown a combined display, travel and closet wardrobe shoe case, generally designated by the numeral 10, which includes a base 12 and a cover 14. The base 12 and cover 14 are connected together by means of hinges 16 such that the cover may be swung from the open position of Fig. 1 to the closed position of Fig. 2. The hinges 16, although not illustrated in detail, are of the well-known slide-release type in which male hinge parts in the form of pins are carried by the cover or top 14 and female hinge parts in the form of pinaccommodating sleeves are carried on the base 12.

The base 12 includes a bottom wall 18, front and rear walls 20 and 22, and side walls 24, 26. As seen best in Fig. 1, the rear wall 22 is of a substantial height as compared to the front wall 20 and is joined to the front wall by a forwardly and downwardly inclined support or platform 28. The platform 28, which serves as an inclined pedestal, is formed with one or more pairs of heel depressions or cutouts 30a, 3011, each of which more or less conforms to the general outline of the heel of a shoe. In this connection, an average heel size is selected for the openings or cutouts 30a, 30b such that one or more shoe sizes may be accommodated within a given case construction. In actual manufacture, it may be necessary to prepare diiferently dimensioned cases to accommodate given portions of the total size range of a mens shoe line. In the regions forwardly of the shoes on the inclined pedestal or support 28, appropriate advertising indicia or legends may be imprinted. Such advertising material may be placed directly on the support, or upon removable inserts, such that after the required display function and sale of shoes to the consumer, the indicia may be removed from the support in order not to detract from the appearance of the case, when in use.

The cover 14 includes a top 32, front and rear walls 34, 36 and side Walls 38, 40. The top or cover 14 as well as the base 12 are of generally rectangular configuration and when brought to the closed or locked position of Fig. 2 may simulate the appearance of a conventional piece of luggage. From the standpoint of the size necessary to accommodate several pairs of shoes, the box or container 10 will have the same general appearance as an attache case.

As seen best in Fig. 3, the top wall 32 of the cover 14 is spaced in relation to the platform 28 and with respect to the average shoe size such that the inner surface thereof is substantially in contact with the counter portion of the shoes accommodated within the case 10. Thus, the platform 28 and the top wall 32 serve to confine shoes against removal from their supported position with the heels extending into the cutouts 30a, 3%. Such confinement of the shoes facilitates the use of the case in travelling without concern for the movement of the one or more pairs in relation to each other.

On the meeting edges of the front walls 20, 34 of the base and top sections 12, 14 of the case 11 are carried cooperating releasable latch elements 42a, 42b which may be of any well-known construction, serving to secure the base and cover in the closed position of Fig. 2. Also supported on the front wall 34 of the cover section 14 is an appropriate handle 44.

In actual use, the case may be initially set up as illustrated in Fig. 1 with several pairs of shoes supported therein rearwardly of the locations designated by the letters A to G inclusive, H to M inclusive and O to U inelusive. Behind the respective pairs of shoes, the inner face or surface of the top 32 of the cover 14 may be provided with appropriate advertising indicia and pictorial representations. Such indicia and representations may be formed directly on the inner surface of the cover or may be placed on one or more removable panels such that after merchandising, and along with the indicia forwardly of the shoes, such material may be removed. The case 10 then has the appearance of an ordinary piece of luggage. In connection with the manner of displaying the advertising material, a latitude of variation is intended.

When the case is to be used for travel, it is merely necessary to place the shoes therein, close the cover 14, latch the cover 14 in the closed position, and handle the case the same as an ordinary piece of luggage. During such travel, the relative proportions of the case and its construction facilitates movement without the shoes falling about loosely within the case.

When the case is to be used as a closet or wardrobe accessory, the cover 14 may be removed in that the hinges 16 are of the slide release type; the base with the shoes supported therein is placed at any convenient location, for example, on the floor of a closet.

In Figs. 4 and 5, there is shown an alternative form of the invention which is similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive and referred to by the same reference numerals with primes applied thereto. It is to be noted that the form illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 is of generally trapezoidal cross-section as contrasted to the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, which is of generally rectangular cross-section. Many and other varied shapes are encompassed within the instant disclosure. The base section 12' includes a modified inclined support or pedestal 28 which has depressions or wells 50a, 50!) conforming generally to the outline of a pair of shoes and including curved bottom walls 52a, 52b generally following the contour or shape of the soles and cutout 54a, 54b conforming generally to the outline of the heels. Thus, in lieu of merely seating the heels of the shoes as shown in Fig. 1, the entire lower portion of the shoes is accommodated within the depressions or wells 50a, 50b during the display, travel and storage. Further, the cover section 14' is provided with one or more partitions 56 which are supported from the top wall 32'. The partitions 56 are arranged to divide the interior of the case into individual compartments for the several pairs of shoes. Specifically, the

partitions 56 come into position intermediate respective pairs of shoes upon closing of the cover and compartmentalize the interior of the case such that each pair of the shoes is separately accommodated. Once again, advertising indicia may be provided within the regions framed by the partitions and associated with the adjacent pair of shoes.

It will be obvious that many variations may be made in the structures disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims, and that in certain instances some features of the invention may be used without a corresponding use of other features.

What I claim is:

1. A combined display, travel and closet wardrobe shoe case for one or more pairs of shoes comprising a base having front and rear walls, said front wall being of less height than said rear wall, side walls connecting said front and rear walls and an inclined top wall supported on said front, rear and side walls and sloping forwardly and downwardly from the upper end of said rear wall to the upper end of said front wall, said top wall being formed with one or more pairs of wells, each well of said one or more pairs of wells being substantially complementary to the shape of the heel of a shoe, one or more pairs of shoes being adapted to rest upon said top wall with their heels received within the complementary wells of said one or more pairs of wells, and a cover for said base having a top wall and depending front, rear and side walls connected to said top wall, and hinge means pivotally connected to said cover at the lower end of its rear wall and to said base at the upper end of the rear wall and mounting said cover for swinging movement into and out of closing relation relative to said base, said base and cover when closed having the shape of a travelling case, said hinge means being of the releasable type whereby said cover may be separated from said base for display of shoes on said base.

2. A combined display, travel and closet wardrobe shoe case for one or more pairs of shoes comprising a base having front and rear walls, said front wall being of less height than said rear wall, side walls connecting said front and rear walls and an inclined top wall supported on said front, rear and side walls and sloping forwardly and downwardly from the upper end of said rear wall to the upper end of said front wall, said top wall being formed with one or more pairs of wells, each well of said one or more pairs of wells being substantially complementary to the shape of the heel of a shoe, said one or more pairs of shoes being adapted to rest upon said top wall with their heels received within the complementary wells of said one or more pairs of wells, a cover for said base having a top wall and depending front, rear and side walls connected to said top wall, said cover being pivotally and releasably mounted at the lower end of its rear wall on the upper end of the rear wall of said base for swinging movement into and out of closing relation relative to said base, said cover when closed having its top wall positioned in relation to said inclined top wall of said base to abut against the counter portions of said one or more pairs of shoes to confine the heels of said one or more pairs of shoes Within said wells, and partitions depending from said top wall of said cover and disposable between adjacent pairs of shoes when said cover is closed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

